Caine Morris

Sahil Athawale and Project X1 student contributors

At the University of Sussex Business School, students are not just learning about enterprise, they are building it. Through dedicated support from the University’s Careers and Entrepreneurship team, students are encouraged to develop ideas, gain practical experience, and grow ventures that respond to real-world needs.

Two standout students from the University of Sussex Business School are proving that bold ideas and entrepreneurial spirit can drive real-world change, through accessing two competitions available at the University:

Startup Sussex – a competition for current students and recent graduates, up to 3 years post-graduation, with business ideas and the prestigious Big Ideas competition - an international startup initiative offering launch funding and a trip to the United States of America.

Business School students, Sahil Athawale (MSc International Marketing) and Caine Morris (BSc Business and Management Studies with a Venture Creation Year) both advanced to the second round of the Big Ideas contest. Their achievements highlight not only their drive and creativity, but also the impact of personalised support they received from the University.

Project X1, led by Sahil Athawale, is an AI monitoring system designed to optimise human cognitive health. Sahil and his team developed the concept in response to growing concerns about the way people interact with artificial intelligence. It’s a system designed to track AI interactions, assess cognitive load, and provide personalised recommendations for balanced AI usage. Unlike traditional digital well-being tools, Project X1 offers real-time AI usage insights, cognitive health assessments, and an AI detox mode to promote independent thinking.

The Entrepreneurship Team at the University of Sussex was instrumental in this startup journey, providing guidance in strategy, networking, and mentorship. The support Sahil received helped to refine his business model, explore funding, and access pitching competitions. Sahil shared how the Entrepreneurship team’s feedback “strengthened our foundation, ensuring a clear roadmap for scaling Project X1”.

Similar to Sahil’s aim to create a product to improve current processes, Car-Go, created by Caine Morris, was a product of turning a frustrating personal experience into a compelling business idea. After a non-fault car accident, Caine found himself unable to source a replacement car door on the Isle of Wight. Despite knowing that delivery drivers frequently passed scrapyards on the mainland, there was no straightforward way to coordinate a collection. This inefficiency revealed a broader, nationwide issue in automotive logistics. In response, Caine created Car-Go as a shipping platform specifically designed for heavy goods and commercial vehicles traveling empty or partially loaded. Its goal is to minimize empty journeys, enhance efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions - offering a sustainable solution for the freight and logistics industry.

The University’s Entrepreneurship Team guided Caine in workshops to help him develop key skills needed such as pitching and financial planning to make this idea a success. Caine also appreciated that he received one to one coaching which allowed him to ‘overcome challenges, build confidence, and grow as an entrepreneur’.

Both Car-Go and Project X1 reflect the broader impact of the University’s Careers and Entrepreneurship initiatives. The skills these students have developed will serve them not only as founders, but as future business leaders and innovators.

We asked Sahil and Caine to share their advice for any other students looking to start a business:

Sahil Athawale: “Utilise Sussex resources like the Entrepreneurship Team, incubators, and competitions to refine your idea. Expect setbacks, but resilience, adaptability, and learning will drive success. Most importantly, stay passionate and focus on creating meaningful impact”.

Caine Morris: “The right people and opportunities are always closer than they seem. Make a list of your goals, make them unrealistic, and just try”.

If you’re a University of Sussex student with a big idea or you would simply like to develop entrepreneurial skills, you can find out more about what the Entrepreneurial Team has to offer and the funding opportunities available to support kick-start your venture.